Rotary cutter heads for mining machines

Abstract

A rotary cutter head having generally helical loading vanes for urging cut rock or mineral towards a mining machine supporting the cutter head is provided with air flow inducing means for inducing an air flow in a direction substantially away from the mining machine.

We claim: 
     
       1. A rotary cutter head for a mining machine having a drive component for drivable engagement by the cutter head, comprising a hub assembly adapted to be drivably engageable with the drive component, a cylindrical barrel component secured around the hub assembly and defining a radially outer surface, at least one cut material loading vane mounted on said radially outer surface defined by the barrel component, a plurality of cutter tool holders mounted around the loading vane, and air flowing inducing means, which in use, when the cutter head is mounted on the mining machine tend to induce an air flow outside the barrel component and in a general direction away from the mining machine, the air flow inducing means comprising a number of air flow inducing sprays, each spray being arranged such that, in use, a portion of the spray is directed towards said radially outer surface of the barrel component and further air flow inducing means mounted within the barrel component and tending to induce a second air flow within the barrel component and in a general direction toward the mining machine, deflection means in said second air flow path for directing said second air flow radially outwardly so as to induce an air flow around the cutter head. 
     
     
       2. A rotary cutter head as claimed in claim 1, in which a number of the air flow inducing sprays are mounted on the surface of the loading vane facing away from the machine. 
     
     
       3. A head as claimed in claim 2, in which the sprays are arranged to direct fluid in a direction away from the mining machine. 
     
     
       4. The cutter head of claim 1, in which the deflection means is a deflector component secured around the machine gearbox and is directed generally radially outwardly thereof. 
     
     
       5. A mining machine having a rotary drive component and a rotary cutter head comprising a hub assembly adapted to be drivably engageable with the drive component, a cylindrical barrel component secured around the hub assembly and defining a radially outer surface, at least one cut material loading vane mounted on said radially outer surface defined by the barrel component, a plurality of cutter tool holders mounted around the loading vane, and air flow inducing means, which in use tend to induce an air flow outside the barrel component and in a direction away from the mining machine, the air flow inducing means comprising a number of air flow inducing sprays, each spray being arranged such that, in use, a portion of the spray is directed towards said radially outer surface of the barrel component and further air flow inducing means mounted within the barrel component and tending to induce a second air flow within the barrel component and in a general direction toward the mining machine, deflection means in said second air flow path for directing said second air flow radially outwardly so as to induce an air flow around the cutter head. 
     
     
       6. A mining machine as claimed in claim 5, in which a number of the air flow inducing sprays are mounted on the surface of the loading vane facing away from the machine. 
     
     
       7. A mining machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the sprays are arranged to direct fluid in a direction away from the mining machine. 
     
     
       8. The mining machine of claim 5, in which the deflection means is a deflector component secured around the machine gearbox and is directed generally radially outwardly thereof.